January 29, 2010
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News: Scammer Gets 11 Years
Five individuals have been indicted on credit card fraud charges in Providence, by the Rhode Island Attorney General. In a Federal Courtroom, Eric Snead was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role as ringleader in the credit card scheme. Harry Gonzalez, 43, Norma Danzot, 41, Kenneth Muniz, 22, and Dwayne Silva, 29, all of Providence were also charged with numerous crimes including conspiracy, access device fraud, identity theft, and credit card fraud. Together with Snead as the leader, the five co-conspirators compromised the credit card accounts of over 50 individuals and racked up over $400,000 in fraudulent charges and cash withdrawals.
According to the Assistant U.S. Attorney, Adi Goldstein, Snead and his partners in crime obtained credit card information on the victims and then requested replacement cards from the lenders. They used the information to produce counterfeit Rhode Island drivers' licenses using the victims names with the co-conspirators' photos. The thieves then used the counterfeit drivers' licenses, intercepted the replacement cards, and use the credit cards to obtain cash advances at gambling casinos and club service centers. The thieves also used the stolen cards to purchase a variety of merchandise from local merchants including television sets, computers, cell phones, and a variety of electronic merchandise. The five then turned around and sold the stolen merchandise for cash.
Snead pleaded guilty to 32 felony counts including conspiracy, fraudulent use of credit cards, illegally producing and fraudulently possessing identification documents, unlawful possession of a document making implement, and aggravated identity theft. He received a nine year sentence plus an additional two years for aggravated identity theft. His co-conspirators, Gonzalez, Danzot, Muniz, and Silva pleaded guilty to conspiracy and access device fraud as well. Gonzales and Muniz also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Sentencing for all four has been set for March. Gonzalez and Silva remain in jail pending their sentencing and Danzot and Muniz have been freed on bond.